The Roger Teal-trained Dancing Gemini excelled in conditions to land the Listed Doncaster Mile on his seasonal reappearance.

Dancing Gemini's second behind Metropolitan in the Group 1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains at Longchamp last May proved to be the best performance in 2024 from the son of Camelot. Whilst not disgraced when sixth over a trip too far in the Epsom Derby in May, he failed to recapture his sparkle when well-beaten in subsequent runs in the Group 1 Eclipse Stakes and the Group 3 Thoroughbred Stakes. He showed some of his old form when a well-beaten fourth in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes in October, and connections were keen to start the new season over a mile.

The 9/4 favourite Dancing Gemini, under Kieran Shoemark, was always prominent and looked far the best with two furlongs, drawing away from the field readily for a three-and-three-quarter length success over Checkandchallenge. Botanical finished well for a third.

"He ran so well in the French Guineas last year and he was in the Derby, because he's bred for further – we'd never had a runner in the Derby so let him take his chance," said Teal.

"That took an awful lot out of him though, and given that we never got to run him on his favoured ground, he never managed to win despite running well.

"I said before the race if he bolted up we'd go straight to the Lockinge. It's funny, Charyn won this last year and he never won at three either.

"He obviously loves it here because he was very impressive here as a two-year-old, but I think nice ground is the key to him.

"We'll keep our feet on the floor but he was incredibly impressive there. It all went to plan, I told Kieran to settle him and it couldn't have gone any better."